Brazil planning to build an Aircraft Carrier with a foreign partner

Posted On
Wednesday, 12 March 2014 11:13

a

Naval
Forces News - Brazil

Brazil
planning to build an Aircraft Carrier with a foreign partner

According
to Bloomberg citing Brazil Defense Minister Celso Amorim, the country
plans to build an aircraft carrier with a foreign partner as part of
an effort to enhance the military readiness of the Marinha do Brasil
(Brazilian Navy).

DCNS Evolved Aircraft Carrier (DEAC) project

“The
idea is for it to be built in Brazil, probably based on an existing
project,” Amorim told a group of foreign correspondents. Latin
America’s largest country will require a new aircraft carrier
within 15 years and will modernize its existing one in the meantime,
Amorim said.

For the past few years, french shipbuilder DCNS has been showcasing
its DEAC Aircraft Carrier project. According to DCNS, the DEAC is based
on French Navy CVN Charles de Gaulle's combat proven design and aviation
system. It is capable of providing power projection, sea control and
air defence. The aircraft carrier is compatible with all CTOL aircrafts
(including Airborne Early Warning aircraft) and features the latest
technologies including cutting-edge Combat System, UAV integration,
advanced conventional propulsion and state-of-the-art platform stabilisation
system.

It has to be noted that DCNS already has a strong presence in Brazil
as the company is currently building five submarines as well as a naval
base in the country with local industry partners.

A scale model of the Brazilian Navy Sao Paulo aircraft carrier with
several "Sea Gripens" on the deck was shown by SAAB during
the LAAD 2013 defense exhibition in Brazil

Brazil
chose in December 2013 the SAAB Gripen over the Boeing Super Hornet
and the Dassault Rafale. 36 new jet fighters will eventually be built
for the Brazilian Air Force.

It is important to know that during the LAAD 2013 defense exhibition,
SAAB showcased a carrier-based version of its Gripen called the "Sea
Gripen". According to Saab, the requirements established by the
Swedish Air Force (Flygvapnet) so that the Gripen had STOL capabilities
(Short Takeoff and Landing), i.e. ability to take off and land from
short stretches of road, caused the aircraft to present performance
and flying qualities similar to those required for aircraft specifically
designed to operate from an aircraft carrier.

Finally, we
recently learned that US Company General Atomics is activelly
marketing its Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) to several
countries including Brazil.